An external hard drive is a handy tool for storing and backing up important files and data.
However, sometimes these devices can stop working or become inaccessible, which can be frustrating and cause a major inconvenience.
One common issue is when an external hard drive is not showing up in File Explorer on a Windows computer.
How To Fix External Hard Drive Not Showing Up In File Explorer
If your external hard drive is not showing up in File Explorer on your Windows computer, there are a few steps you can take to try to fix the issue.
First, check to make sure that the hard drive is properly connected to the computer.
The external hard drive should be plugged into a USB port on your computer, and the power cable should be securely connected to the drive and plugged into a power outlet.
Next, check to see if the hard drive is detected by the computer.
To do this, open the “Disk Management” window by typing “disk management” into the search bar on the taskbar and selecting the “Create and format hard disk partitions” result.
In the Disk Management window, look for the external hard drive in the list of drives. If it is not listed, it is not being detected by the computer.
If the hard drive is not detected, try restarting the computer and see if the drive shows up in the Disk Management window after the restart.
If it still does not appear, try using a different USB cable to connect the hard drive to the computer.
If the hard drive is detected by the computer but is not showing up in File Explorer, it may be because the drive is not assigned a drive letter.
To fix this, open the Disk Management window as described above and right-click on the external hard drive in the list of drives. Select “Change Drive Letter and Paths” and then click “Add”.
Choose a drive letter from the list and click “OK”. The drive should now appear in File Explorer.
If these steps do not fix the issue, the hard drive may be damaged or corrupted.
In this case, it is recommended to try using a data recovery tool to recover as much of the data as possible from the drive, and then replace the drive with a new one.
Why did my external hard drive suddenly disappear?
There are a few possible reasons why an external hard drive may suddenly disappear.
One possibility is that the hard drive is not properly connected to the computer. This could happen if the USB cable has come loose or if the power cable has been disconnected. In this case, simply checking the connections and making sure they are secure should fix the problem.
Another possibility is that the hard drive is no longer being detected by the computer.
This could be due to a hardware issue with the drive itself, such as a faulty USB port or a problem with the drive’s internal components. In this case, restarting the computer and checking the connections again may help. If the drive still does not appear, it may need to be replaced.
A third possibility is that the hard drive has been accidentally deleted or formatted.
This could happen if someone inadvertently deletes the drive or if the drive is formatted as part of a computer maintenance routine. In this case, a data recovery tool may be able to recover some or all of the data from the drive.
Finally, it is also possible that the hard drive has been infected with malware or a virus.
This can cause the drive to stop working or become inaccessible. In this case, it is recommended to scan the computer and the hard drive with a reliable antivirus program to remove any malware and restore the drive’s functionality.
Final Thoughts
An external hard drive not showing up in File Explorer can be a frustrating issue, but it is often a simple fix.
By following the troubleshooting steps outlined in this article, you should be able to quickly resolve the problem and regain access to your files and data.
Additionally, implementing some preventative measures, such as regularly backing up your data and using a surge protector, can help to prevent this issue from happening in the future.
